Sequel to Burnett’s “The Bible” announced by NBC
“The Bible” is getting its sequel. NBC said Monday it was teaming with producer Mark Burnett on the follow-up to this spring’s popular cable miniseries “The Bible” from Burnett and his wife, Roma Downey. This is a pretty significant jump to go from the cable network the History Channel to a major broadcaster NBC.\
New York Times
NBC Nabs Mark Burnett’s ‘Bible’ Sequel
Project is first under new longform programming initiative
By Andrea Morabito — Broadcasting & Cable, 7/1/2013 12:37:44 PM
NBC is partnering with prolific producer Mark Burnett [and wife Roma Downey] on [their] follow-up project to The Bible miniseries as the first title in the network’s new longform programming initiative.
A.D.: Beyond the Bible (working title) is the sequel to the 10-part The Bible that aired on History this spring to huge ratings, with its premiere drawing 13.1 million total viewers. The next iteration will begin after Jesus’ betrayal and death, when his disciples take a stand against Rome and the local authorities.
Burnett will executive produce the project with his wife and Bible collaborator Roma Downey and Richard Bedser in a coproduction between LightWorkers Media, Hearst Productions and Universal Television. Burnett is already producer of NBC’s The Voice and Celebrity Apprentice.
“I followed the development process of The Bible closely with Mark and knew that the story was far from over after Christ’s Crucifixion. In fact, what happened in the aftermath — which is essentially the beginning of Christianity — is utterly fascinating,” said NBC Entertainment chairman Bob Greenblatt. “The day after The Bible premiered, I told Mark we were on board with no hesitation for the follow-up miniseries. This will be attention-getting in every way, and we’re proud to continue our association with Mark which has just grown exponentially from The Voice.”
NBC last month hired ABC’s Quinn Taylor to head a new longform programming group as executive VP of movies, miniseries and international coproductions like Hannibal, Crossbones and the upcoming Camp.